DESIGNER GRAFT?

A few days before Milan's semi-annual fashion shows begin, Italian newspapers report that some of the biggest names in the industry would soon be indicted for allegedly bribing tax officials to go easy on audits. Among those reported by Italian news agencies: Giorgio Armani, Gianfranco Ferre and Mariuccia Mandelli (the name behind Krizia.) TIME Rome reporter Greg Burke says that nearly all the top Italian fashion designers had been called in over the last several months as part of the massive "Clean Hands" corruption probe. Today, Armani reacted coolly: "It's a formality related to the known investigation."